Mental Health Glossary of Treatments

Courtesy of Best Colleges.com

Treatment for any of the conditions found in this guide should be discussed with your healthcare provider. Do not begin a medication regimen without first consulting your doctor or therapist. These professionals will help determine your dosage or if you can find recovery through therapy. Please remember that not all treatments work for everyone; only by talking to a professional can you determine the proper choices to consider.

PSYCHOTHERAPY – DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SUICIDE, EATING DISORDERS AND ADDICTION

Psychotherapy involves talking to a professional therapist, counselor or Psychologist to find the root cause of a problem, learn ways to cope, and avoid relapsing into unhealthy habits and tendencies. There are two overarching branches of psychotherapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT). CBT involves altering internal perceptions. Therapists who use CBT work emphasize positivity in their patients’ lives. IPT focuses on external factors that may cause individuals to fall into a depression or develop an addiction. IPT counselors work on pinpointing toxic relationships and offer ways to make them better or end them safely. Under psychotherapy treatment, you will also find the following forms of therapy included or overlapping: family therapy, psychodynamic therapy, DBT therapy and EMDR therapy, to name just a few approaches.

MEDICATION – DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

Often reserved for severe cases, antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication are prescribed by a healthcare provider or licensed Psychologist to patients who aren’t responding to psychotherapy alone. In many cases, antidepressants are given to those with anxiety disorders, but it is recommended that those on medication continue to talk through their problems with a professional. It is important to be patient when beginning a new medication; you might not feel the effects until your body has had a chance to fully acclimate to the new chemicals.

SUPPORT GROUPS OR GROUP THERAPY – DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SUICIDE, EATING DISORDERS AND ADDICTION

This kind of treatment works with small groups of individuals suffering from similar conditions; groups are led by one or two Psychologists. Sharing your experiences with others who understand what you’re going through and where you’ve been (and hearing their stories as well) can help you realize you’re not as alone as you once thought. These groups become support systems able to help you put your fears, concerns and actions into perspective. The groups can also be a way to befriend people who will help you if you find yourself relapsing into old, unhealthy habits.

INPATIENT TREATMENT – EATING DISORDERS AND ADDICTION

Inpatient treatment occurs with patients in a hospital or rehabilitation center 24/7. For the extent of their care, patients live in close proximity to nurses and doctors who are able to help them get better. People suffering from eating disorders or addictions that have reached an extreme level are often admitted into a treatment facility in order to get better. In many ways, inpatient treatment is similar for both illnesses; patients are supervised during the day, attend group and individual counseling sessions and receive treatment that will teach them healthier ways to cope. Inpatient care for eating disorders often involves monitored meals to help with weight gain or the adoption of proper eating habits.

OUTPATIENT TREATMENT – EATING DISORDERS AND ADDICTION

Outpatient care allows patients to live at home and go to a treatment facility during the day. Some outpatient treatment is more intensive and requires patients to be at the hospital or rehabilitation center for several hours, while others require patients to visit counselors for a few hours every other day or so. For addicts, outpatient treatment consists of longer sessions with counselors – between two and four hours – to prevent relapse. Those with eating disorders also meet their therapists, but some are required to meet with nutritionists and dieticians to plan meals. More intensive outpatient care for individuals with eating disorders can last between eight and twelve hours and consist of two monitored meals.

DETOXIFICATION PROGRAMS – ADDICTION

When overcoming addiction, the withdrawal process can be intensely grueling. Detoxification programs, which usually consist of medically-managed withdrawal, help patients through this trying time; they are, in effect, the first step to recovery for addicts. Cleansing the body of all toxins does not fix the problem, so one of the above steps is often included in addiction rehabilitation to prevent relapse.